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Hindu and Muslim life coordinators named

Posted July 31, 2008; 10:49 a.m.

by Eric Quiñones

The Office of Religious Life has appointed coordinators for Hindu and Muslim life as part of efforts to enhance support for Princeton students from a variety of backgrounds.

Vineet Chander has been named coordinator of Hindu life, a newly created position, and Sohaib Sultan has been appointed coordinator of Muslim life, both effective Aug. 15.

"The increasing diversity of Princeton's student body is bringing a wonderful diversity of religious traditions as well," said Alison Boden, dean of religious life and the chapel. "Our new colleagues in the Office of Religious Life will help us not only to support the Hindu and Muslim communities but also to promote interreligious understanding and dialogue as a part of all students' total Princeton education."

The new Hindu coordinator position is a half-time, one-year pilot project, said Boden, who hopes it will become a full-time, permanent position next year. The Muslim coordinator position is a full-time, permanent position.

Chander has served as a religious communications consultant for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness since 2005, following a year as an assistant district attorney in Queens, N.Y. Chander was a Hindu minister and chaplain for two years at George Washington University, where he earned a law degree. He is a graduate of St. John's University and also holds a divinity degree from Bhagavata Theological Seminary.

Sultan has been the Muslim chaplain at two Connecticut institutions, Wesleyan University and Trinity College, since 2006 and 2005, respectively. He previously served as a Muslim chaplain fellow at Yale University and has participated in the U.S. Department of State's Citizens Dialogue Program, visiting countries around the world to give presentations on Muslim life, interfaith cooperation and pluralism in the United States. Sultan is the author of "The Koran for Dummies" and "The Qur'an and Sayings of Prophet Muhammad: Selections Annotated and Explained." He has studied at Indiana University and the Hartford Seminary. Sultan replaces Khalid Latif, who served as Princeton's first Muslim chaplain in a pilot project in 2006-07 and is now a chaplain with New York University and the New York City Police Department.

In addition to the new coordinator positions, the University has recognized the Chabad chaplaincy led by Rabbi Eitan Webb. Since 2002, Webb has co-directed the Princeton chapter of Chabad on Campus, an international organization that offers social, educational and spiritual programs for college students. The Chabad chaplaincy joins 13 existing chaplaincies -- representing a range of faiths and religious traditions -- recognized by the University. Recognized campus chaplains work closely with the Office of Religious Life to serve the pastoral needs of students, faculty and staff and to strengthen the faith communities they represent.